West Virginia University and the University of Guanajuato in Mexico are co-sponsoring the fourth annual WVU faculty and staff language exchange this summer.
The four-week professional development programJune 4-July 1has five openings for individuals employed as WVU faculty or staff, including adjuncts.
Co-sponsored by the WVU Office of International Programs and the WVU Department of Foreign Languages’Intensive English Program, the exchange program’s aim is to enhance English and Spanish languages and increase cultural understanding. There are now 33 graduates of the exchange from both universities.
Local host family living adds an immersion experience in Guanajuato, a mountain town of 130,000 inhabitants. Its language center uses an integrated language instructional approach. Participants are placed in Spanish language courses as beginner, intermediate or advanced. Evening events include cultural arts such as dance, ceramics, music and quilting. There are no prerequisites for studying Spanish. For more about Guanajuato University , visithttp://www.ugto.mx/.
The exchange greatly reduces the cost for this lifelong learning program. Each university offers a tuition waiver for language instruction and host family apartment at no extra charge to eligible participants
WVU participants need an initial deposit of $150 towards the $375 administrative fee. Each exchange participant pays all other travel expenses, including round-trip airfare, tours in the country, required group health insurance, immunizations and personal expenses. Recently, airfare averaged around $600. Participants may use frequent flyer miles.
Online applications are available atwww.wvu.edu/~intlprog. Deadline to apply is March 31.
Six Guanajuato participants will arrive in Morgantown July 2 for four weeks of English classes at WVU . They will depart on or about July 29.
Morgantown families are needed to host Guanajuato faculty during this time.
A host family stipend is given to cover costs of meals and food and use of a private bedroom. Meals may include breakfast snack, brown bag lunch and dinneraccording to the family’s normal routine.
WVU ’s Office of International Programs provides services to university participants, including orientation and program planning.
For more information on the exchange, contact George Lies, 304-293-6955 ext. 4.